The country was going through an economic hardship, essentially due to the political dictatorship of the ruling party at the time. Because of a demand for more liberty and claim for human rights, the University was closed in 1979 and 1981 by the military ruling party at the time. In 1982, I left Kinshasa and went to Rabat, Morocco, to pursue education in Physics science at University Mohamed V, where I got a bachelor’s degree in Physics Sciences.

I left Morocco in 1984 to pursue Electrical Engineering School in Mons, Belgium. I got a PhD in Electrical Engineering in 1993, while I was also working at the University as Assistant Professor and Researcher. I met General Motors (GM) Staff at an engineering conference in Paris, France, 1994, while I was presenting two research papers. In 1995, General Motors offered me a job at the GM Research & Development Center, in Warren, Michigan. I’ve lived in Michigan since that time. I also have a master’s degree in Development Practice, obtained at Regis University, Denver, Colorado.

Since 2010, I joined volunteering work in impoverished Black/Brown communities of Detroit, Michigan, through General Motors (GM) Outreach and Giving Back program. I focused in helping youth in areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). For information, I was given the following prestigious Award in 2013:

• “Science Spectrum Trailblazer” Award, October 30, 2013, National Council of Engineering Deans of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Lockheed Martin Corporation, and US Black Engineer &Information Technology Magazine. Award received at the 28th BEYA STEM Conference on Feb. 6, 2014, Washington DC.

As a black Engineer, raised in poor villages of Africa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, I plan to actively continue to support, participate, and organize STEM activities among youth students in need of help, especially in impoverished Black/Brown communities of America.

In 2014, I met Dr. Ray Larsen, Chair of the IEEE Smart Village (ISV), a non-profit humanitarian branch of the IEEE. Ray talked to me about the IEEE Smart Village’s mission, vision and 3 pillars that are: electricity, education, and entrepreneurship.

The speech captivated my attention on development effort for developing countries, such as the Democratic Republic (DR) of Congo. I decided to join the IEEE Smart Village (ISV) effort, and Ray appointed me as ISV Business Development Manager for DR Congo. Indeed, IEEE Smart Village (ISV) is a priority initiative of IEEE Foundation with a 3-pronged approach, using solar Electricity as the foundation to enable Education and Entrepreneurship within marginalized communities.

All over the world, millions of people living in remote villages lack access to electricity. Once the sun goes down, it usually becomes difficult and even expensive, for these villagers to obtain necessary lighting for everyday tasks like reading, cooking, etc.

Often, alternative solutions would become impossible or require expensive and dangerous fuels like kerosene.

IEEE Smart Village is a unique venture dedicated to empowering marginalized communities in remote regions without access to a national electricity grid. The initiative provides access to reliable solar electrification, broad- based education, women’s empowerment, and market-based business development. IEEE Smart Village (ISV) works to foster sustainable development to improve lives in impoverished villages worldwide.

Since I met Dr. Larsen and accepted the non-profit position to represent my native country in IEEE Smart Village, my immediate goal has been to find means and ways of implementing the ISV vision in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ISV enrolled me in the master’s program at Regis University, Denver, Colorado, in Fall 2015, to pursue education and training in non-profit and development practice. After 3 years of continuous online education, I acquired my master’s degree in Development Practice, in Winter 2018.

Today, I have been appointed to the position of Executive Director of ISV Project Development Committee, and Member of the Executive Board. I am involved in daily management of the IEEE Smart Village Non-Profit organization.

Thanks to development experience learned through IEEE Smart Village and General Motors volunteering work, I have been travelling to Kinshasa, DR Congo, 3 to 4 times per year to teach electric engineering a local University, at my own expenses. I have been encouraged by fellow Congolese students who seat in hot auditorium to hear my lectures, sometimes as long as 10 hours straight! Students of Congo strive to hear something new in recent advances of science, technology and engineering.

My new non-profit organization “Light Up A Village” will partner with IEEE Smart Village and IEEE Industry Applications Society to work on creating substantial change and solutions that can be sustained in sectors of Solar Electricity, Education, Agriculture and Entrepreneurship.